The Contract (39 page)

“Why did you want to work for me?”

I decided to be honest. “At first it was revenge—to get back at David. He disliked you so much, I knew that if I had the chance to work for you, he might very well offer me a partnership to stay. All I wanted was the offer. Then . . .”

“Then?” Graham prompted.

“Then I met you, spoke with you, and it changed. You listened to me, encouraged my ideas. I hadn’t felt that level of excitement or positive reinforcement in years. The revenge became a back seat to wanting to be part of the whole atmosphere you had in the office. I wanted the chance to work with you.” I paused in embarrassment, lowering my voice. “I wanted to make you proud.”

For a moment, the room was silent. Graham spoke up. “I see.”

I cleared my throat. “Again, I apologize. Katy and I wish you well, both personally and professionally.”

Graham’s fingers tapped out an irregular beat on the top of the box. “David hates me because of the way I chose to live my life. We went to school together, did you know that?”

I shook my head.

“We were friends, once. We even discussed going into business together. As usual with David, it was all or nothing. He expected dedication to the point that you couldn’t possibly maintain a life both inside and outside a business. I met Laura, and I knew I wanted more than just work. When I told him I wasn’t interested, well, we exchanged some heated words. We parted ways; he opened his business and I opened mine. We’re both successful, except his was achieved in an entirely different manner. It’s all tied up in money and business. I’ve lost count of the number of staff he has had through the years. The questionable campaigns associated with his company. The number of women connected to his name. I think he’s been married and divorced four times.”

“Five,” I corrected.

He grinned a little, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “I guess I missed one along the way. The point is, to him nothing is more important than money. He hates me because I chose to have a life outside of work, and I still became a success. He knows, as well as anyone who knows me does, to me the most successful thing I have, the thing I hold the dearest, is my family. I would give it all up as long as I had them—without even blinking an eye.”

Graham met my gaze steadily. “He has no solid reason in his life to give it up for. That’s why he hates me.”

“I was fast becoming like him until Katy entered my life.”

He nodded. “I’m glad it changed.” He rapped the top of the box with his knuckles. “Which is why I had to end your contract, Richard. It was signed under false pretenses.”

“I appreciate your honesty and bringing my things, Graham.”

“I’m not done yet.”

“Oh?” I asked, confused.

He sat back, an almost amused expression crossing his face. “I find myself down a very talented staff member. I’ve seen your work, Mr. VanRyan, and thought, perhaps, you may fit in with my company.”

I frowned, certain I had heard him incorrectly.

“I’m sorry?”

“I think you are,
now
, exactly the sort of person I would like on my team.”

“I don’t . . . I don’t understand.”

“I am offering you a job, Richard. With a clean slate.” He reached in his pocket, bringing out a new contract. “We’ll start fresh.”

I swallowed, hardly believing this was happening.

“Why?” I managed through tight lips.

“Because, like Katy, I believe in second chances.” He took Laura’s hand. “We both do.”

Laura nodded at me, tears in her eyes. “You could have kept silent about your relationship with Katy, Richard. You could have continued to deceive us. We may have suspected, but we would never have known if you hadn’t been honest. We both saw how deeply you cared for Penny. We know how kind you were to Jenna.
That
is the Richard we want in our company. The one who wants to grow with it—be part of it.” She smiled. “Be part of our family. Because that is the way we think of the two of you.”

Katy made an odd noise in the back of her throat. Angling, I saw the tears sliding down her face and the way her body shook, trying to keep her reaction in check. I slid closer, drawing her head to my shoulder. “Shh, sweetheart, it’s okay.”

I turned back to Graham. “You believe me? After everything, all the lies, you believe me?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“We do, because of
that
.” Graham indicated the way I was holding Katy. “You can’t fake that, Richard. We can feel the love you have for your wife.”

“Give him a pen!” Katy burst out. “He’ll sign! We want to stay—we both want to stay!”

Graham and Laura both grinned at her words and I had to bite my lip to stop my laughter. She would make a lousy poker player, but she was right. We did want to stay.

Keeping my arm around her, I extended my hand. “I would be honored to work for you, Graham. I won’t let you down again. I promise, I will make you proud.”

He took my hand, shaking it firmly. “You already have.”

I had to look away to make sure Katy was okay. It had nothing to do with the way my vision blurred or the sting of tears behind my eyes.

Nothing at all.

RICHARD

I CARRIED THE TRAY TO
the kitchen, leaving Laura and Katy talking. Graham followed me, carrying the box and waited so we could go into the den and talk more. He glanced at the papers on the counter, picking up the job listing for Calgary.

“Really, Richard?” He smirked. “You would have died of boredom there.”

“I couldn’t take Katy to Toronto. She’d be miserable.”

He studied me for a moment, a smile crossing his face. “How you’ve changed.”

“Grown up, you mean.”

He nodded, clapping me on the shoulder. “It’s good to see.”

I glanced over his shoulder to where Katy was standing, hugging Laura. “It feels good,” I admitted. “I never thought it was something I would experience.”

“The right person can open our eyes to many things, Richard.”

He was right.

He held out my new contract. “Let’s go sign some papers.”

“Why did you bring my things if you planned on rehiring me?”

A strange look crossed his face, and he flipped open the lid. “The box is empty, Richard.”

I gaped at him. “What? Why then?”

“The same reason we showed up unannounced. I wanted to see how you would act if you thought it was over. I wanted to see your real, gut reaction. Not one you had planned in advance.”

“And?”

“You looked shattered.”

“I was. I wanted to keep working for you. When I saw the box, I knew I’d fucked it beyond repair. I wasn’t surprised, but it hit me right then,
how much
I wanted it. I knew there was nothing I could do to fix it. I had done it to myself after all.”

“Your reaction told me everything I needed to know. You were upset, yet you immediately reached out to comfort Katy. I knew you
had
really changed.” He grinned. “Sorry for the subterfuge.”

I stuck out my hand, which he took, shaking it hard. “I understand.”

He flipped the lid shut. “Use it and bring a few more things into the office. Make it yours, Richard.”

“Does anyone know?”

“Outside the family, no. The staff thinks you’ve been off with Katy. You come in on Monday and start again. No one else is the wiser.”

“Thank you. I won’t let you down this time.”

“I know,” he said and nodded emphatically. “
I know
.”

A short while later, Graham shook my hand goodbye. “I’ll see you Monday.”

Laura gave Katy one last hug, then turned to me. “We expect great things of you, Richard.”

“I’ll deliver.”

She patted my cheek. “I know you will.”

“I have a lot to make up for, and I’ll do my best.”

“We’re starting fresh. You come in on Monday with a clean slate with Graham and me.” She smiled ruefully. “You can work through your relationships with Adam, Jenna, and Adrian on your own. They had equal say in keeping you on, and they all were for it.” She arched an eyebrow at me knowingly. “Although, I think one of my children may have more to say on the subject than the other.”

I snickered. “Of that I have no doubt, and I’ll take whatever anger Jenna wants to direct my way. I’ll make sure to talk to all of them in private next week.”

“Welcome back on board, Richard.”

“Thank you.”

I walked them to the elevator, returning a few moments later. Katy wasn’t inside the door, or in the living room. I hurried up the stairs, surprised when I found her sitting on the chaise in her old room.

“Sweetheart?”

She looked up, a somber look on her face.

“What is it? Why are you in here?”

She shrugged. “I was thinking.”

I sat down in front of her, cupping her face. “About?”

“How nervous and scared I was the first night I spent here.”

“About being here—with me?”

“That and the future. In one move, you had changed my entire life. I wasn’t in that horrid little apartment, I was leaving my job, and I had no idea how we were going to pull off such an elaborate charade. All I could think was how bad it was going to fail, and I didn’t know how I was going to pick up the pieces when it did.” She paused, her finger tracing the pattern on the cushion. “My thoughts were chaotic and I was so uncertain.”

“I wasn’t any help either, was I?”

She tilted her head, studying me. “No, actually, your calmness, the way you took control of everything was a help. You were so certain, so intent on your goal; I had only to follow your lead.”

“Would it help to know I was in awe of you even then, Katy? You showed me so much bravery.” I smirked as I remembered our earlier conversations. “The first time you told me to go fuck myself—I saw a spark you kept hidden. You stopped being the doormat I mistakenly thought you were and became a force.” I pushed her hair away from her shoulder, caressing the silky strands. “You became my force. My light.”

“You became my everything,” she whispered.

I bent low, brushing my mouth over hers. “How far we’ve come.”

“Today was a good day.”

“It was. I’ve signed a new contract; I get to go back to work on Monday to a place where I really want to be. We can stay in Victoria, and the best part of all, is that I have you. We can make a life together.”

“I think I want to go back to work.”

I was somewhat surprised. “Why? You don’t have to.”

“I know, but what am I going to do all day, Richard? Wander around an empty condo? Paint and repaint rooms? I want to be useful.” She sighed. “I don’t have Penny to fill my days anymore.”

The sadness of her words made my heart tighten.

“What about some volunteer work besides the shelter? You know so many of the residents at Golden Oaks—maybe you could spend some time there. I’m sure they’d appreciate the help.”

“I thought of that.”

I shifted forward, pulling her close. “Katy, I want you to do whatever you want to do. Volunteer, work, whatever makes you happy. But, listen to me, sweetheart. The past few months have been one thing after another for you. Everything you said earlier about how I changed your life is true.” I stroked the softness of her cheek with my knuckles. “And although it’s turned out well, I know how stressful it all was on you. Everything changed in your life, and you lost Penny. I know, at times, it must overwhelm you, so I’m going to ask you to think about it. Don’t rush into anything. Please.”

Her eyes were fathomless as our gazes locked. I didn’t know how to express how important this was to me.

“I want . . .” I swallowed and breathed deep. “For the first time in my life, I
want
to take care of someone. Let me do that. I’ll support you in whatever you decide, but let me look after you for a little while. I need to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine,” she insisted.

“Please,” I repeated. “Just a little time. I want you to relax. Decorate our room. Read. Sleep. Make me some of your incredible dinners. Bake me cookies.” I pressed her hand to my chest. “Look after me. I need you, sweetheart. I need to know you need me, too.”

She cupped my face, her thumbs rubbing small circles on my cheeks. “I do need you, Richard.”

“For me,” I pleaded, leaning my forehead to hers. “All I’m asking for is a little time.”